Value of Ambulatory Modified Radical Mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: Modified radical mastectomy (MRM) still is largely performed in inpatient settings. This study sought to determine the value (expenditures and complications) of ambulatory MRM. METHODS: Health Care Utilization Project (HCUP) state databases from 2016 were queried for patients who underwent MRM. The study examined rates of 30-day readmission for surgical-site infection (SSI) or hematoma, charges by index care setting, and predictors of 30-day readmission. RESULTS: Overall, 8090 patients underwent MRM: 5113 (63 %) inpatient and 2977 (37 %) ambulatory patients. Compared with the patients who underwent inpatient MRM, those who underwent ambulatory MRM were older (61 vs. 59 years), more often white (66 % vs. 57 %), in the lowest income quartile (28 % vs. 21 %), insured by Medicare (43 % vs. 33 %) and residents in a small metro area (6 % vs. 4 %) (all p < 0.01). Of the 5113 patients treated as inpatients, 126 (2.5 %) were readmitted, whereas 50 (1.7 %) of the ambulatory patients were readmitted (p = 0.02). The adjusted charge for inpatient MRM without readmission was $113,878 (range, $107,355-120,402) compared with $94,463 (range, $86,021-102,907) for ambulatory MRM, and the charge for inpatient MRM requiring readmission was $159,355 (range, $147,142-171,568) compared with $139,940 (range, $125,808-154,073) for ambulatory MRM (all p < 0.01). This difference remained significant after adjustment for hospital length of stay. Adjusted logistic regression showed that the ambulatory setting was protective for readmission (odds ratio, 0.49; 95 % confidence interval, 0.35-0.70; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The analyses suggest that ambulatory MRM is both safe and less expensive. The findings advocate that MRM, a last holdout of inpatient care within breast surgical oncology, can be transitioned to the ambulatory setting for appropriate patients.

Assessment of Textbook Oncologic Outcomes Following Modified Radical Mastectomy for Breast Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Textbook oncologic outcome (TOO) is a composite outcome measure attained when all desired short-term quality metrics are met following an oncologic operation. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of TOO and its impact on the overall survival (OS) among patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) following modified radical mastectomy (MRM). METHODS: The 2004-2017 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with non-metastatic IDC who underwent MRM. TOO was defined as having attained five metrics: resection with negative microscopic margins, American Joint Committee on Cancer compliant lymph node evaluation (n ≥ 10), no prolonged length of stay (50th percentile by year), no 30-d readmission, and no 30-d mortality. OS was defined as the time in months between the date of diagnosis and the date of death or last contact. RESULTS: A total of 75,063 patients were identified, of which 40.8% achieved TOO. The TOO patients had a lower median age and were more likely to be White, privately insured, and without comorbidities. In terms of facility characteristics, patients with TOO were more likely to be seen in comprehensive community cancer programs with a high case-volume per year. The TOO group had a statistically significant higher median OS compared to the non-TOO group (165.6 versus 142.2 mo; P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis TOO was independently associated with a reduced risk of death (HR = 0.82; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TOO is achieved in approximately 41% of patients undergoing MRM for IDC. Achieving TOO is associated with improved median OS and reduced risk of death. TOO therefore merits further attention in efforts to improve surgical outcomes.

In-laboratory breast specimen radiography reduces tissue block utilization and improves turnaround time of pathologic examination.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to determine whether in-laboratory specimen radiography reduces turnaround time or block utilization in surgical pathology. METHODS: Specimens processed during a 48-day trial of an in-lab cabinet radiography device (Faxitron) were compared to a control group of specimens imaged in the mammography suite during a prior 1-year period, and to a second group of specimens not undergoing imaging of any type. RESULTS: Cases imaged in the mammography suite had longer turnaround time than cases not requiring imaging (by 1.15 days for core biopsies, and 1.73 days for mastectomies; p < 0.0001). In contrast, cases imaged in-lab had turnaround time that was no longer than unimaged cases (p > 0.05 for core biopsies, lumpectomies and mastectomies). Mastectomies imaged in-lab required submission of fewer blocks than controls not undergoing any imaging (mean reduction of 10.6 blocks). CONCLUSIONS: Availability of in-lab radiography resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in turnaround time and economically meaningful reductions in block utilization.

Avaliação do perfil dos tumores de mama localmente avançados de estadiamento inicial T4N0 no Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva / Profile assessment of locally advanced T4N0 breast tumors at the National Cancer Institute José Alencar Gomes da Silva

"Introdução: O câncer de mama localmente avançado é uma forma de apresentação ainda bastante frequente em países em desenvolvimento, correspondendo a um grupo heterogêneo de tumores com comportamento biológico variado. As pacientes são tratadas com abordagem multidisciplinar, incluindo tratamento sistêmico, cirurgia radical e radioterapia. Objetivo: Avaliar se há características presentes em tumores de estadiamento clínico T4N0 que poderiam dar respaldo à realização de biópsia de linfonodo sentinela. Método: Estudo retrospectivo incluindo 50 pacientes com carcinoma invasivo de mama localmente avançado matriculadas no Instituto Nacional de Câncer no período entre fevereiro de 2008 a agosto de 2010. Todas as pacientes foram submetidas a tratamento cirúrgico com mastectomia radical modificada e todas as pacientes foram submetidas à radioterapia adjuvante. Utilizadas variáveis como tamanho do tumor, número de linfonodos acometidos, subtipo molecular e ocorrência de linfedema. Resultados: A média de idade foi 59,42 anos. O tamanho médio do tumor pré-tratamento foi 5,83 cm e pós-tratamento foi 3,2 cm. Terapia neoadjuvante sistêmica foi administrada a 40 pacientes. Trinta e seis casos tinham receptor de estrogênio positivo, 19 pacientes eram receptor de progesterona positivo, 10 pacientes apresentavam HER2 positivo, 5 casos de tumores receptor hormonal negativo e HER2 positivo, 9 pacientes tumores triplo negativos e cinco pacientes com tumores do tipo luminal híbrido. Vinte e três pacientes não apresentaram linfonodos positivos na peça cirúrgica; 18 pacientes apresentaram 1 a 3 linfonodos positivos, 6 pacientes apresentaram de 4 a 9 linfonodos comprometidos e 3 pacientes com 10 ou mais linfonodos comprometidos. Apresentaram linfedema 34% das pacientes, sendo que 41,1% não apresentaram doença axilar na patologia pós-operatória. Das vinte e três pacientes com ausência de doença axilar, 82,6% das pacientes apresentavam, ao exame clínico na triagem, apenas edema cutâneo como característica para classificação T4. Conclusão: A biópsia de linfonodo sentinela poderia ser considerada em casos selecionados de pacientes classificadas como T4b que apresentam como alteração apenas o edema de pele, e com o tratamento sistêmico apresentam resposta terapêutica e resolução completa da alteração cutânea, mantendo-se com axila clinicamente negativa, podendo se beneficiar de um procedimento menos invasivo na axila"(AU)

"Introduction: Locally advanced breast cancer is a form of presentation that is still quite frequent in developing countries, corresponding to a heterogeneous group of tumors with varied biological behavior. Patients are usually treated with a multidisciplinary approach, including systemic treatment, radical surgery and radiation therapy. Objective: To evaluate if there are characteristics present in T4N0 clinical staging tumors that could support the performance of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Method: Retrospective study including 50 patients with locally advanced invasive breast carcinoma enrolled at the National Cancer Institute from February 2008 to August 2010. All patients underwent surgical treatment with modified radical mastectomy and all patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. Variables such as tumor size, number of affected lymph nodes, molecular subtype and occurrence of lymphedema were assessed. Results: The average age was 59.42 years. The average size of the pretreatment tumor was 5.83 cm and post-treatment was 3.2 cm. Systemic neoadjuvant therapy was administered to 40 patients. Thirty-six cases had positive estrogen receptor, 19 patients were positive progesterone receptor, 10 patients had HER2 positive, 5 cases of negative hormone receptor and positive HER2 tumors, 9 patients with triple negative tumors and 5 patients with hybrid luminal tumors. 23 patients did not present positive lymph nodes in the surgical specimen; 18 patients had 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes, 6 patients had 4 to 9 compromised lymph nodes and 3 patients with 10 or more compromised lymph nodes. 34% of the patients had lymphedema, and 41.1% of them had no axillary disease in the postoperative pathology. Of the 23 patients with no axillary disease, 82.6% of the patients presented, at screening, on clinical examination, only cutaneous edema as a characteristic for T4 classification. Conclusion: Sentinel lymph node biopsy could be considered in selected cases of patients classified as T4b who present only skin edema as an alteration, and with systemic treatment present therapeutic response and complete resolution of the skin alteration, maintaining a clinically negative armpit and may benefit from a less invasive procedure in the armpit."(AU)

Cost-effectiveness analysis of levobupivacaine 0.5 %, a local anesthetic, infusion in the surgical wound after modified radical mastectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Effective treatment of postoperative pain contributes to decreasing the rate of complications as well as the total cost of the operated patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the costs and the efficiency of use of continuous infusion of levobupivacaine 0.5 % with the help of an infusion pump in modified radical mastectomy. METHODS: A cost calculation of the analgesic procedures (continuous infusion of levobupivacaine 0.5 % [levobupivacaine group (LG)] or saline [saline group (SG)] (2 ml/h 48 h) has been carried out based on the data of a previous clinical trial (double-blind randomized study) of patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy surgery. The measure of the effectiveness was the point reduction of pain derived from the verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS). The usual incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was performed. RESULTS: Considering only the intravenous analgesia, overall costs were lower in LG, as less analgesia was used (EUR14.06 ± 7.89 vs. 27.47 ± 14.79; p < 0.001). In this study the costs of the infusion pump were not calculated as it was used by both groups and they offset each other. However, if the infusion pump costs were included, costs would be higher in the LG, (EUR91.89 ± 7.89 vs. 27.47 ± 14.79; p < 0.001) and then the ICER was -8.51, meaning that for every extra point of decrease in the pain verbal numerical rating score over the 2-day period, the cost increased by EUR8.51. CONCLUSION: Infiltration of local anesthetics is an effective technique for controlling postoperative pain and the associated added costs are relatively low in relation to the total cost of mastectomy, therefore providing patients with a higher quality of care in the prevention of pain. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov: reference number NCT01389934. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01389934

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy among Department of Defense beneficiaries by race.

BACKGROUND: Postmastectomy breast reconstruction increased approximately 20% between 1998 and 2008 in the United States and has been found to improve body image, self-esteem, and quality of life. These procedures, however, tend to be less common among minority women, which may be due to variations in health care access. The Department of Defense provides equal health care access, thereby affording an exceptional environment in which to assess whether racial variations persist when access to care is equal. METHODS: Linked Department of Defense cancer registry and medical claims data were used. The receipt of reconstruction was compared between white women (n = 2974) and black women (n = 708) who underwent mastectomies to treat incident histologically confirmed breast cancer diagnosed from 1998 through 2007. RESULTS: During the study period, postmastectomy reconstruction increased among both black (27.3% to 40.0%) and white (21.8% to 40.6%) female patients with breast cancer. Receipt of reconstruction did not vary significantly by race (odds ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-1.15). Reconstruction decreased significantly with increasing age, tumor stage, and receipt of radiotherapy and was significantly more common in more recent years and among active service women, TRICARE Prime (health maintenance organization) beneficiaries, and women whose sponsor was an officer. CONCLUSIONS: The receipt of breast reconstruction did not vary by race within this equal-access health system, indicating that the racial disparities reported in previous studies may have been due in part to variations in access to health care. Additional research to determine why a large percentage of patients with breast cancer do not undergo reconstruction might be beneficial, particularly because these procedures have been associated with noncosmetic benefits.

Cost-effectiveness of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy for prevention of contralateral breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of women with sporadic unilateral, early-stage breast cancers are undergoing ipsilateral therapeutic mastectomy with contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) to prevent the development of new cancers in the contralateral breast. METHODS: A decision-tree using TreeAge Pro 2012 software was used to model the costs and effects of CPM versus unilateral mastectomy (UM) in women younger than 50 years of age with sporadic unilateral, early stage breast cancers. Cost estimates were obtained from the Medicare Fee Schedule and the Healthcare Utilization Project. Probability estimates were obtained from the literature. Outcome effects were measured by incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. A 10-year risk period for contralateral breast cancer (CBC), a lifetime time horizon, and a societal perspective were used. RESULTS: Treatment with CPM results in 0.2 QALYs less than UM and $279 less in costs during a 10-year risk period and lifetime follow-up. The resulting incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) is a savings of $1397 per QALY lost. The ICER is sensitive to the rate and method of postmastectomy reconstruction and the cost of radiologic surveillance after UM. CONCLUSIONS: CPM is cost-saving for the prevention of CBC in women younger than 50 years of age with sporadic, unilateral, early-stage breast cancers, but also reduces resulting health. The savings for health lost are insufficient to be considered cost-effective at this time.

The use of breast-conserving surgery for women treated for breast cancer in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

BACKGROUND: Previous non-stage-adjusted research described a lower use of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for the treatment of breast cancer in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities than in the private sector. METHODS: We combined data from the VHA Centralized Cancer Registry with administrative datasets to describe surgical treatment for locoregional breast cancer in VHA facilities from 2000 to 2006. RESULTS: When considering only procedures performed in VHA facilities, BCS rates decreased from 50.5% (53/105) in 2000 to 42.3% (n = 58/137) in 2006; however, after accounting for procedures conducted in the private sector and paid for by the VHA, BCS rates approached those experienced in breast cancer patients cared for outside the VHA. CONCLUSIONS: Based solely on procedures performed in the VHA, rates of BCS use are much lower in the VHA than in the private sector. We were able to show similar rates of BCS use when we accounted for procedures paid for by the VHA but performed at an outside facility. Further exploration and prospective analyses to examine these findings are needed.

Trends in immediate breast reconstruction across insurance groups after enactment of breast cancer legislation.

BACKGROUND: To improve access to breast reconstruction for mastectomy patients, the United States enacted the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act in January of 1999. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the impact of this legislation on patients with different insurance plans. METHODS: Women aged ≥18 years who underwent mastectomy for cancer were identified in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2000-2009) and were classified according to their immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) status. Trends in rates of IBR were described for each insurance category. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, race, estimated household income, and Elixhauser comorbidity index was performed to evaluate the relation between insurance status and IBR. RESULTS: In total, 168,236 patients were identified who underwent a mastectomy during the study interval. Across the 10-year study period, rates of IBR increased 4.2-fold in Medicaid patients, 2.9-fold in Medicare patients, 2.6-fold in privately insured patients, and 2.1-fold in self-pay patients (P < .01). However, after adjustment for confounders, women without private insurance were less likely to undergo IBR compared with women who had private insurance (Medicaid: odds ratio [OR], 0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.37; Medicare: OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.49-0.58; self-pay: OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.37-0.50; other types of nonprivate insurance: OR, 0.64, 95% CI, 0.56-0.73). CONCLUSIONS: After the enactment of policy designed to improve access to IBR, Medicaid and Medicare patients experienced the greatest relative increase in rates of IBR. Although policy changes had the most impact on traditionally underserved populations, disparities still exist. Future studies should endeavor to understand why such disparities have persisted.

A 10-year (1999 ~ 2008) retrospective multi-center study of breast cancer surgical management in various geographic areas of China.

PURPOSE: To study the change of surgical treatments for breast cancer in China over the recent 10 years and the relationship between such a changes and social economical development. METHODS: The data were extracted from the 10-year database of female primary breast cancer at 7 tertiary hospitals from various geographic areas in China. The Chi-square Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to measure the difference. RESULTS: Over the 10 year period, mastectomy showed a decline trend while breast conserving surgeries increased. The modified radical mastectomy was the primarily surgical treatment. Among various types of mastectomies, modified radical mastectomy was increasing while Halsted radical mastectomy had shown a decrease trend; no significant changes were observed for the simple mastectomy. Halsted radical mastectomy and breast conserving surgery were used in a higher proportion in high economic areas than low economic areas, while the modified radical mastectomy has been underused in hospitals from high economic areas. CONCLUSIONS: Modified radical mastectomy was the overall most common choice of operation in China. Breast conserving surgery has been less popular but had been showing an increasing trend. Halsted radical mastectomy has still been in use but showing a decrease these years. Surgeries were not adherent to guidelines completely and needed further effective training.

Cost minimisation analysis of using acellular dermal matrix (Strattice™) for breast reconstruction compared with standard techniques.

BACKGROUND: We performed a cost analysis (using UK 2011/12 NHS tariffs as a proxy for cost) comparing immediate breast reconstruction using the new one-stage technique of acellular dermal matrix (Strattice™) with implant versus the standard alternative techniques of tissue expander (TE)/implant as a two-stage procedure and latissimus dorsi (LD) flap reconstruction. METHODS: Clinical report data were collected for operative time, length of stay, outpatient procedures, and number of elective and emergency admissions in our first consecutive 24 patients undergoing one-stage Strattice reconstruction. Total cost to the NHS based on tariff, assuming top-up payments to cover Strattice acquisition costs, was assessed and compared to the two historical control groups matched on key variables. RESULTS: Eleven patients having unilateral Strattice reconstruction were compared to 10 having TE/implant reconstruction and 10 having LD flap and implant reconstruction. Thirteen patients having bilateral Strattice reconstruction were compared to 12 having bilateral TE/implant reconstruction. Total costs were: unilateral Strattice, £3685; unilateral TE, £4985; unilateral LD and implant, £6321; bilateral TE, £5478; and bilateral Strattice, £6771. CONCLUSIONS: The cost analysis shows a financial advantage of using acellular dermal matrix (Strattice) in unilateral breast reconstruction versus alternative procedures. The reimbursement system in England (Payment by Results) is based on disease-related groups similar to that of many countries across Europe and tariffs are based on reported hospital costs, making this analysis of relevance in other countries.

[10-year changes and development of surgical treatment for breast cancer in China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes and development of surgical treatment for breast cancer from 1999 to 2008 in China, and compare the differences between the surgical methods used in high-resource and low-resource areas. METHODS: Clinicopathological data of surgical treatment for female primary breast cancer was collected via medical chart review at hospitals in seven geographic areas in China. Chi-square test and chisqure test for linear trends were used to analyze the changes and development of the surgical methods used for breast cancer in the 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 4211 primary breast cancer patients were selected from the 10-year database, including 4078 women (97.5%) treated by surgical operation. Among 3271 women (80.21%) treated with modified radical mastectomy, the surgical rate was rising from 68.89% in 1999 to 80.17% in 2008, ascending by 11.28% (χ(2) = 31.143, P < 0.001). In high-resource areas, the surgical rate of modified radical mastectomy was rising from 45.64% in 1999 to 76.13% in 2008, ascending by 30.49% (χ(2) = 89.393, P < 0.001), while in low-resource areas it kept a steady rate at 80% in the ten years (χ(2) = 2.113,P = 0.146). Among 231 women (5.66%) treated with breast-conserving surgery, the surgical rate was rising from 1.29% in 1999 to 11.57% in 2008, ascending by 10.28% (χ(2) = 102.835, P < 0.001). In high-resource areas, the surgical rate of breast-conserving surgery was rising from 2.68% in 1999 to 16.87% in 2008, ascending by 14.19% (χ(2) = 69.544, P < 0.001), while in low-resource areas it was rising from 0.42% in 1999 to 6.22% in 2008, ascending by 5.80% (χ(2) = 30.003, P < 0.001). Among 469 women (11.50%) treated with Halsted radical mastectomy, the surgical rate was declining from 28.28% in 1999 to 4.96% in 2008, descending by 23.32% (χ(2) = 206.202, P < 0.001). In high-resource areas, the surgical rate of Halsted radical mastectomy was declining from 50.34% in 1999 to 3.29% in 2008, descending by 47.05% (χ(2) = 274.830, P < 0.001), while in low-resource areas it was declining from 14.58% in 1999 to 6.64% in 2008, descending by 7.94% (χ(2) = 8.166, P = 0.004). Among 3786 women treated with breast mastectomy (including modified radical mastectomy and Halsted radical mastectomy), the surgical rate was declining from 98.46% in 1999 to 86.36% in 2008, descending by 12.10% (χ(2) = 95.744, P < 0.001). In high-resource areas, the surgical rate of breast mastectomy was declining from 96.64% in 1999 to 80.66% in 2008, descending by 15.98% (χ(2) = 53.446, P < 0.001), while in low-resource areas it was declining from 99.58% in 1999 to 92.12% in 2008, descending by 7.46% (χ(2) = 36.758,P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The main primary surgical treatment for breast cancer is modified radical mastectomy during the period 1999 - 2008. Halsted radical mastectomy is gradually replaced by modified radical mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery. The rate of changes for breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy is higher in high-resource areas than that in low-resource areas. Breast-conserving surgery will become the main treatment for early-stage breast cancer.

Effectiveness of radiation for prevention of mastectomy in older breast cancer patients treated with conservative surgery.

BACKGROUND: A recent clinical trial concluded that radiation therapy (RT) does not lower the risk of mastectomy and, thus, may be omitted in older women with stage I, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer who undergo conservative surgery (CS). However, it is not known whether this finding applies to patients outside of clinical trials. Accordingly, we used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare observational cohort to determine the effect of RT on the risk of mastectomy among older women with stage I, ER-positive breast cancer. METHODS: The authors identified 7403 women ages 70 to 79 years who underwent CS between 1992 and 2002. Claims were used to determine RT status and to identify women who underwent mastectomy subsequent to initial treatment. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the risk of subsequent mastectomy, and Cox regression analysis was used to determine the effect of RT adjusted for clinical-pathologic covariates. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 7.3 years, the risk of subsequent mastectomy within 10 years of diagnosis was 3.2% for patients who received RT versus 6.3% for patients who did not receive RT (P < .001). In adjusted analyses, RT was associated with a lower risk of mastectomy (hazard ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.48; P < .001). RT provided no benefit for patients ages 75 to 79 years without high-grade tumors who had a pathologic lymph node assessment (P = .80); however, for all other subgroups, RT was associated with an absolute reduction in risk of mastectomy that ranged from 4.3% to 9.8% at 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Outside of a clinical trial, the receipt of RT after CS was associated with a greater likelihood of ultimate breast preservation for most older women with early breast cancer.

Accuracy of radiological tumour size assessment and the risk for re-excision in a cohort of primary breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Re-operations after breast conserving surgery (BCS) are necessary, when specimen margins are not free of breast cancer cells. This study explored the accuracy of preoperative tumour size assessment and its influence on the rate of re-excisions and mastectomies. METHODS: The study included 1591 patients with invasive breast cancer, who were planned for BCS. Patient, staging and tumor characteristics were evaluated concerning their influence on re-excision and mastectomy rates. Patient and tumor characteristics comprised histopathological tumour size, HER2 status, multifocality, in situ component, grading (G), nodal status and hormone receptor (HR) status. Staging characteristics included deviation from pathological tumour size as measured by clinical examination, sonography and mammography. RESULTS: In 1316 patients (83%) sufficient treatment was possible with one operation. 275 patients (17%) had to undergo at least one further surgery as a result of positive specimen margins. In 138 patients (9%) mastectomy was ultimately necessary. In patients with a positive HER2 status, a larger tumour size, underestimation by ultrasound, an in situ component and multifocality, the risk for a re-operation was about doubled. Tumour size deviation in the mammogram or the clinical tumour size assessment did not have significant influence to the re-excision rates. CONCLUSION: Tumour size and accurate presurgical assessment of the tumour size itself are independent predictors for the need of a second surgery or even a mastectomy in patients for whom a primary BCS was planned.

Breast-conserving therapy versus modified radical mastectomy: socioeconomic status determines who receives what--results from case-control study in Tianjin, China.

BACKGROUND: Despite anecdotal evidence linking socioeconomic status and choices on surgical management in breast cancer patients in China, no scientific evaluations have ever been conducted. The objective of this study was to evaluate patient factors that influence patients' treatment options between breast cancer patients receiving breast-conserving therapy (BCT) and modified radical mastectomy (MRM). METHODS: A total of 268 stage I-II breast cancer patients treated with BCT in Tianjin Cancer Hospital, from January 2005 to January 2007, were compared with 200 randomly selected breast cancer patients (controls) treated with MRM. A personal health questionnaire (PHQ) was used to assess the factors that may affect the surgical decision making. Chi-squared test and multiple logistic regressions were used to examine factors associated with BCT. RESULTS: BCT patients who were younger and were more likely to live in urban areas had medical insurance, higher levels of education and family income. Patients with medical insurance coverage were approximately six times more likely to receive BCT than patients without medical insurance after controlling for other potentially confounding factors. Similar results were also observed for family income. The observed differences cannot be explained by clinical aspects of their disease, such as tumor stage, estrogen receptor, and lymph node involvement. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer patients' socioeconomic status, rather than their clinical condition, is the predominant factor in determining whether a breast cancer patient receives BCT or not. These results provide a snapshot on how socioeconomic status influences cancer care provision in China. Future efforts should be made towards reducing discrepancies in treatment options for cancer patients caused by social class and socioeconomic status.

Cost-effectiveness of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy versus routine surveillance in patients with unilateral breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) rates in women with unilateral breast cancer are increasing despite controversy regarding survival advantage. Current scrutiny of the medical costs led us to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of CPM versus routine surveillance as an alternative contralateral breast cancer (CBC) risk management strategy. METHODS: Using a Markov model, we simulated patients with breast cancer from mastectomy to death. Model parameters were gathered from published literature or national databases. Base-case analysis focused on patients with average-risk breast cancer, 45 years of age at treatment. Outcomes were valued in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Patients' age, risk level of breast cancer, and quality of life (QOL) were varied to assess their impact on results. RESULTS: Mean costs of treatment for women age 45 years are comparable: $36,594 for the CPM and $35,182 for surveillance. CPM provides 21.22 mean QALYs compared with 20.93 for surveillance, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $4,869/QALY gained for CPM. To prevent one CBC, six CPMs would be needed. CPM is no longer cost-effective for patients older than 70 years (ICER $62,750/QALY). For BRCA-positive patients, CPM is clearly cost-effective, providing more QALYs while being less costly. In non-BRCA patients, cost-effectiveness of CPM is highly dependent on assumptions regarding QOL for CPM versus surveillance strategy. CONCLUSION: CPM is cost-effective compared with surveillance for patients with breast cancer who are younger than 70 years. Results are sensitive to BRCA-positive status and assumptions of QOL differences between CPM and surveillance patients. This highlights the importance of tailoring treatment for individual patients.

Re-resection rates after breast-conserving surgery as a performance indicator: introduction of a case-mix model to allow comparison between Dutch hospitals.

AIM: Re-resection rate after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has been introduced as an indicator of quality of surgical treatment in international literature. The present study aims to develop a case-mix model for re-resection rates and to evaluate its performance in comparing results between hospitals. METHODS: Electronic records of eligible patients diagnosed with in-situ and invasive breast cancer in 2006 and 2007 were derived from 16 hospitals in the Rotterdam Cancer Registry (RCR) (n = 961). A model was built in which prognostic factors for re-resections after BCS were identified and expected re-resection rate could be assessed for hospitals based on their case mix. To illustrate the opportunities of monitoring re-resections over time, after risk adjustment for patient profile, a VLAD chart was drawn for patients in one hospital. RESULTS: In general three out of every ten women had re-surgery; in about 50% this meant an additive mastectomy. Independent prognostic factors of re-resection after multivariate analysis were histological type, sublocalisation, tumour size, lymph node involvement and multifocal disease. After correction for case mix, one hospital was performing significantly less re-resections compared to the reference hospital. On the other hand, two were performing significantly more re-resections than was expected based on their patient mix. CONCLUSIONS: Our population-based study confirms earlier reports that re-resection is frequently required after an initial breast-conserving operation. Case-mix models such as the one we constructed can be used to correct for variation between hospitals performances. VLAD charts are valuable tools to monitor quality of care within individual hospitals.

A study of pre-operative type and screen in breast surgery: improved efficiency and cost saving.

INTRODUCTION: Patients undergoing major breast surgery have an almost negligible need for blood transfusions. However, type and screen requests are still routinely performed. This represents an inefficient utilization of resources and unnecessary workload for laboratory staff. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether pre-operative blood typing is justified in patients undergoing surgical procedures with an intermediate transfusion probability. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing a mastectomy and axillary clearance, with or without breast reconstruction in the last 2 years was undertaken. The number of group and hold and cross-match samples that were performed were identified and compared to the number of patients requiring a blood transfusion. The overall cost of routine pre-operative blood typing was analysed. RESULTS: A total of 229 patients were identified. Of these, a group and hold was performed on 192 (83.8%) patients. Cross-matching was undertaken in thirty-one patients (13.5%). In total, five patients (2.1%) required transfusion. No patient was transfused intra-operatively. The overall cost of routine group and hold blood requests was 1,920 euros and of pre-operative cross-matching was 465 euros. Forty-seven units of blood was returned unused to the blood transfusion service at an estimated cost of 23,500 euros. CONCLUSION: The need for routine group and hold blood requests is not justified for patients undergoing elective breast surgery and represents a waste of clinical resources. A more targeted approach will not only reduce the demand on blood products but also reduce the associated costs to blood transfusion services.

Intraoperative bone marrow puncture in breast cancer patients: prospective assessment of adverse side-effects.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In breast cancer patients, intraoperative bone marrow puncture (BMP) with positive detection of disseminated tumor cells has been reported to predict unfavorable clinical outcome due to increased risk of recurrence. In this study, we prospectively assessed BMP-associated untoward side-effects. METHODS: Fifty-eight consecutive breast cancer patients were prospectively explored after intraoperative BMP for postoperative pain (visual analogue scale, VAS) and complications in terms of infection, hematoma, and sensibility disorder. Furthermore, the impact of BMP on hospital stay duration was analyzed in 254 patients. RESULTS: In all subgroups analyzed, during five postoperative days patients complained about minor pain only at the site of BMP (VAS < 1) while the corresponding pain scores were significantly higher for the area of the operated breast. Post-BMP iliac crest hematomas were encountered in 13 out of 58 patients (22.4%) who were significantly older (p = 0.04), less frequently smokers (p = 0.02), and presented with higher body mass index (p = 0.01) than controls. Within the area of BMP no signs of infection or sensibility disorders were observed. Comparison of patients with and without BMP did not show any significant difference in postoperative hospital stay duration. CONCLUSION: Referring to the potential clinical benefit of intraoperative BMP its prospectively assessed adverse side-effects appear relatively mild and thus acceptable.